Sue Kirby

A pair of South Tyneside teenagers who went to the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester are still missing.

Chloe Rutherford, 17, and her boyfriend Liam Curry, 19, both from South Shields, were at the concert and their frantic families are appealing for information about the pair.

The families have travelled down to Manchester to find them.

Chloe's brother, Scott Rutherford, posted on Facebook: “We’re off to Manchester as a family to hopefully collect our two most precious people wherever they are stay strong were coming for you!

“Both our families love you so much, Thank you for everyone’s continued support, don’t know any more for now.”

Earlier he quashed rumours that the pair had been found, saying on his Facebook page: "Anyone getting news about them being found is untrue we haven't been told anything from both Manchester police or Northumbria police, so whatever you're reading isn't true."

Bernard Wills, 36, the cousin of Mr Curry’s father, said they are a close family and everyone was trying to do their bit.

“They are a great young couple, really loving, with a bright future ahead and there’s nobody that doesn’t like them,” he said.

“Nobody ever has a bad word to say about them, so we’re all a bit worried.

“I think it was Liam’s treat to Chloe this time, they’d gone down to enjoy a night away together.

“I’m sure there’s a valid reason for them not getting in touch, people were dropping their phones as they were leaving or they’ve lost the battery on their phone.”

Little Mix, who have two band members from South Shields, are among those who have appealed for anyone with information on the teenagers to get in touch.

An explosion close to the Arena has claimed the lives of 22 people, while another 59 are injured.